Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Announces Decision to Retire

One of mixed martial arts’ greatest heavyweights of all time is
calling it a career.

Mirko
Filipovic, a former Croatian military police officer that
adopted a fitting nickname in “Cro Cop,” announced his decision to
retire in a message posted to his official website Tuesday
morning.

“Dear friends, unfortunately I had to cancel the fight [against
Anthony
Hamilton at
UFC Fight Night “Henderson vs. Alves”]. In the beginning of the
preparation I hurt my shoulder, so I couldn't raise [my] hand. I
tried to save a shoulder injury and repair in all possible ways:
daily therapy, injections of blood plasma and various cocktails of
drugs but it didn't work out. The only cure would be a break of two
to three weeks, and that I could not afford in the midst of final
preparations. By daily trainings the injury got worse. Part of the
muscle is snapped, the shoulder is filled with a lot of fluids, and
the great danger is that tendon ruptures and then go to operation
again.

“I don't need that, especially at my age,” said Filipovic, 41. “The
next fight would my 80th as a professional and that is a lot,
especially in competition: K-1, Pride, IGF, UFC.

“This is not a temporary decision because I was unhappy due to all
of that, but it's my final decision and it's best for me. Sooner or
later the time comes when a man has to think [of his] health. I had
a really long and great career and I believe I left a deep mark in
martial arts, in [MMA] and in K-1 so I have no regrets. Thanks to
everyone who followed me and supported me, but for me there remains
beautiful memories.”

Filipovic, known for his vicious head kicks, will exit the game
with a 31-11-2 (1 NC) professional record. The
Pride Fighting Championships 2006 Absolute Grand Prix champion
scored a staggering total of 23 knockouts in his career, including
some of the sport’s most memorable finishes.